pretty strong word. Maybe you just like working with her?”
“No, Mama, I love her. We’re going to get married.”
Aunt Maggie sighed and patted his hand. “What about your other girlfriend? The one from your school?”
“I can’t marry both of them, silly.” Danny looked at her in shock.
“I didn’t say that you would, but don’t you think it will hurt her feelings to know that you are saying you love Allison?”
Danny looked down at his Converse high-tops and crossed his arms at his chest. “I love Allison.” That was the end of this discussion as far as he was concerned.
Chapter Ten
The next morning, Zach and I took Butch over to Dr. Springer’s office to make sure he was okay after his days of captivity. Dr. Springer checked him out from head to wiggly tail.
“Now where did you say this dog had been?” Dr. Springer asked as she felt Butch’s stomach.
“He was kidnapped,” Zach said, not sparing the element of excitement.
“He’s a cute little dog. I’m surprised you got him back.”
“Mom had to climb over a dead body to get him, but that’s never stopped her before.”
“Excuse me?”
Okay, that cat was out of the bag. Why did I think of animal metaphors in a vet’s office? Curious. “It’s a long story.”
“You’re my only appointment for the next hour. I have time,” Dr. Springer said as she examined Butch’s paws.
“We found him over at Libby Loper’s house.” I explained about his crawling under the fence and the eventual finding of the dog next to the dead butler.
“That’s quite a tragedy. I’m surprised I haven’t seen it in the Pecan Bayou Gazette.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll be there. Rocky at the paper has demanded I stop by after this appointment so he can get an eyewitness interview.”
“So you actually found the body of Mr. Grayson. That had to be scary.”
“What was really scary was Libby Loper hanging out of the upstairs window. I thought she was going to fall out and kill herself.”
“You could have caught her, Mom,” Zach said as if I had superhero strength.
“Not likely,” I answered.
“So how’s she doing now?”
“She was released from the hospital and seems to be coming out of a very long drug-induced fog. I really feel sorry for her. I’m not sure, but I think Hunter Grayson might have been stealing from her. The house was crammed with boxes.”
“He was drugging her and then spending her money?”
“Something like that.”
“That’s awful, poor woman.”
“When I ran to get her out of the window, she was on something. You know, I have no idea what she’s really like when she’s not under the influence, but one thing’s for sure – she loved this puppy. I felt bad for having to take him back. With all that was going on I almost wished I could let her keep him.”
“Mom!” Zach said.
“I didn’t for one minute not plan on returning him to you, Zach, but I think Butch liked her, too. He came to her faster than to me.”
“He spent more time with her.” Dr. Springer ruffled the fur on Butch’s head. “You’d only had the puppy for a day. He might have been the first real friend to come her way in a long while. Do you think she’s seeing visitors? I might stop by and tell her how Butch is doing. There are many wonderful dogs up for adoption at the Rescue Me Animal Shelter. Maybe I could take her down there and help her find another little dog.”
“That would be really nice.”
“Yeah, as long as it’s not Butch,” Zach added.
“Do you know much about Libby Loper?” I asked.
“Not really. Only what I’ve seen from walking through the museum down the street,” the vet replied.
“Say, would you mind keeping Butch for a few minutes while Zach and I head over to the museum? I think it might help us both in understanding the situation.”
“Not a problem. He can visit with Miss Ivy, my bulldog in the back.”
We strolled down to the house that had been converted into the Charlie Loper
“No, Mama, I love her. We’re going to get married.”
Aunt Maggie sighed and patted his hand. “What about your other girlfriend? The one from your school?”
“I can’t marry both of them, silly.” Danny looked at her in shock.
“I didn’t say that you would, but don’t you think it will hurt her feelings to know that you are saying you love Allison?”
Danny looked down at his Converse high-tops and crossed his arms at his chest. “I love Allison.” That was the end of this discussion as far as he was concerned.
Chapter Ten
The next morning, Zach and I took Butch over to Dr. Springer’s office to make sure he was okay after his days of captivity. Dr. Springer checked him out from head to wiggly tail.
“Now where did you say this dog had been?” Dr. Springer asked as she felt Butch’s stomach.
“He was kidnapped,” Zach said, not sparing the element of excitement.
“He’s a cute little dog. I’m surprised you got him back.”
“Mom had to climb over a dead body to get him, but that’s never stopped her before.”
“Excuse me?”
Okay, that cat was out of the bag. Why did I think of animal metaphors in a vet’s office? Curious. “It’s a long story.”
“You’re my only appointment for the next hour. I have time,” Dr. Springer said as she examined Butch’s paws.
“We found him over at Libby Loper’s house.” I explained about his crawling under the fence and the eventual finding of the dog next to the dead butler.
“That’s quite a tragedy. I’m surprised I haven’t seen it in the Pecan Bayou Gazette.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll be there. Rocky at the paper has demanded I stop by after this appointment so he can get an eyewitness interview.”
“So you actually found the body of Mr. Grayson. That had to be scary.”
“What was really scary was Libby Loper hanging out of the upstairs window. I thought she was going to fall out and kill herself.”
“You could have caught her, Mom,” Zach said as if I had superhero strength.
“Not likely,” I answered.
“So how’s she doing now?”
“She was released from the hospital and seems to be coming out of a very long drug-induced fog. I really feel sorry for her. I’m not sure, but I think Hunter Grayson might have been stealing from her. The house was crammed with boxes.”
“He was drugging her and then spending her money?”
“Something like that.”
“That’s awful, poor woman.”
“When I ran to get her out of the window, she was on something. You know, I have no idea what she’s really like when she’s not under the influence, but one thing’s for sure – she loved this puppy. I felt bad for having to take him back. With all that was going on I almost wished I could let her keep him.”
“Mom!” Zach said.
“I didn’t for one minute not plan on returning him to you, Zach, but I think Butch liked her, too. He came to her faster than to me.”
“He spent more time with her.” Dr. Springer ruffled the fur on Butch’s head. “You’d only had the puppy for a day. He might have been the first real friend to come her way in a long while. Do you think she’s seeing visitors? I might stop by and tell her how Butch is doing. There are many wonderful dogs up for adoption at the Rescue Me Animal Shelter. Maybe I could take her down there and help her find another little dog.”
“That would be really nice.”
“Yeah, as long as it’s not Butch,” Zach added.
“Do you know much about Libby Loper?” I asked.
“Not really. Only what I’ve seen from walking through the museum down the street,” the vet replied.
“Say, would you mind keeping Butch for a few minutes while Zach and I head over to the museum? I think it might help us both in understanding the situation.”
“Not a problem. He can visit with Miss Ivy, my bulldog in the back.”
We strolled down to the house that had been converted into the Charlie Loper
Similar Books
